The first phase of Census 2027, focusing on house listing and housing conditions, will begin in Nagaland in July 2026, Chief Minister Nephi Rio announced during a high-level meeting in Kohima.
Describing the upcoming census as a crucial exercise for the state, the Chief Minister highlighted concerns over inconsistencies in Nagaland’s decadal population growth compared with the national average. He urged elected representatives and political leaders to play a responsible role in ensuring that the enumeration process is conducted honestly and accurately.
Rio noted that inflated population figures in previous exercises have created complications in areas such as Aadhaar coverage and school enrolment statistics. He stressed the need to prevent duplicate entries during the enumeration process to maintain the credibility of the data.
Referring to Nagaland as a predominantly Christian state, the Chief Minister appealed to citizens and public representatives not to take pride in wrongful practices or unhealthy competition that could lead to inflated population counts. Instead, he called for integrity and transparency in the census process.
Chief Secretary Sentiyanger Imchen underlined the importance of an accurate census, stating that reliable population data is essential for planning and implementing government projects and development initiatives across the state.
During the meeting, Home Commissioner Abhijit Sinha presented an overview of Census 2027, while Director of Census Operations Zasekuolie Chusi delivered a detailed presentation on the methodology, processes, and challenges involved in the census exercise.
Chusi urged participants to ensure a clean and accurate enumeration by avoiding duplicate entries or deliberate inflation of population figures. He warned that such practices undermine the integrity of vital socio-economic data and can distort planning for government schemes and development programmes.
The briefing session was attended by Deputy Chief Ministers T. R. Zeliang and Yanthungo Patton, Speaker of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly Sharingain Longkumer, several Cabinet Ministers, Members of the Legislative Assembly, and senior government officials.
Officials emphasised that the census is not merely a headcount but a vital source of data used for policy formulation, governance, and long-term developmental planning.
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